He revealed the date of the presentation of the local fighter.. Erdogan: This is our arrangement among the countries of the world in the production of drones

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country has become among the first 3 countries in the world to produce drones.

This came in a speech he delivered this evening, Thursday, during his participation in an event held by the Turkish Aerospace Industries "TUSAŞ", and in the opening ceremony of the national facility for the production of combat aircraft, in the capital, Ankara.

Erdogan revealed that his government is determined to remove the national fighter from the hangar in 2023 and display it to the whole world, and added that the local fighter will conduct its first flight in 2025, indicating that it will become the striking force of the Turkish Air Force as of 2029.

Erdogan during his participation in the inauguration of the national facility for the production of combat aircraft in the capital, Ankara (Anatolia)

On the other hand, Erdogan confirmed that the defense industries budget has increased from $5.5 billion to $75 billion, since his Justice and Development Party took power in the country (in 2002).

He pointed to an increase in the annual defense industry sales from $1 billion to $10 billion during the same period.

advanced numbers

"We mobilized all possibilities to create a completely independent and self-sufficient defense industry," Erdogan said.

He stated that the number of defense industry projects in Turkey was only 62 20 years ago, but today it has exceeded 750.

He stressed that the number of Turkish companies working in this field also increased from 56 to 1,500 companies.

The Turkish president revealed that the value of the sector's exports increased from 248 million dollars to 3 billion and 224 million dollars, during the mentioned period.

He said that his country has become meeting the needs of friendly and allied countries in this context, not just their own.

Erdogan made it clear that Turkey is among the 10 countries in the world that can design, build and operate its own warships.

According to the Turkish president, his country is currently among the first 3 countries in the world in the production of regular, armed and attack drones.

He explained that Turkey has reached this level despite all the difficulties raised by global suppliers, the overt or covert embargo it has faced, as well as internal and external sabotage operations.